Gain insight into daily Orthodox monastic life in Obernhof, Germany

Details

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  Description

  We are an international Monastic community of Orthodox Christian Nuns, with roots in Greece. Our Sisters are from various countries (Greece, Germany, Georgia, Israel, USA, Russia, Cyprus, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Jamaica, Switzerland, France, and others). We are located on a cliff above the river Lahn one hour from Frankfurt.
  
  Our main occupation is keeping the daily and festal services of the Liturgical year, the worship of God, which encompasses ecclesiastical arts, Byzantine music, spiritual literature, and hymnography, but we spend time also cultivating the farm, tending the sheep for wool and cheese, keeping the bees for the production of honey, as well as collecting apples for making juice, cider, and vinegar. We have daily work in housekeeping and preparing rooms in the guesthouse.
  
  We are open to hosting volunteers, who demonstrate a strong worth ethic, and a desire to participate in the Services, especially if they have specialized knowledge or experience in any particular area of work, such as landscape and vegetable gardening, architectural planning, plumbing, sewing, processing wool, and pruning fruit trees.
  
  Guests are requested to participate in the program of the Monastery. As long as we have resources available, every Trapeza (common meal) provides a cooked food, salad, fruit, and bread. In periods/on days of "fasting" prescribed by the Church (Great Lent, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and other Fasts of the Church year), the food does not contain meat, dairy, eggs, fish, or oil. In periods/on days where all foods are allowed, the food may contain meat, dairy, etc. We do not have the possibility to cater to any dietary preferences such as vegan, vegetarian, raw diets. Volunteers are expected to eat the same food as the Sisters, in the common meals. The hours between meals are designated for work projects (11.00-16.00, but also in the evenings the summer). The Sisters will accompany, demonstrate, and explain to workers the task at hand. Volunteers are required to dress modestly. No smoking, no alcohol on the grounds of the Sacred Monastery. Please be prepared to work in groups with Sisters, with other volunteers, and also alone. Silence from 21.00.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  How to work with other people from various countries. Have an insight to daily Orthodox Monastic life. Be able to develop their skills and knowledge in the framework of the tasks and activities described above. Practice of a foreign language.

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  Help

  Including but not limited to lawn mowing, grass cutting, sheep shearing, feeding the animals, cleaning the stable, washing dishes, cleaning the courtyard, rose pruning

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  German: Fluent
  Greek: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Hebrew: Fluent
  Georgian: Fluent
  Russian: Fluent
  Turkish: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  A simple private bedroom, which may be required to share with other workaways. A common bathroom.
  
  We have two meals a day in which both the Sisters and our guests participate. We eat in silence while a Sister reads from spiritual books.
  
  It is possible to east something small between the main meals. Our guests have access to the kitchen in the guest house, where they can prepare coffee and tea at any time.
  
  About half the days are fasting days, i.e. the food is vegan.

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  What else ...

  Walks in the forest along the river, canoeing, sight-seeing in Koblenz, through access to local train station.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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